Surely a loan back to Wellington
All Whites vs Socceroos | Fri 5th Sept | 9:45pm | GIO Stadium (Canberra) | Duke TV/FIFA+
When the All Whites take on the Socceroos this Friday for the Soccer Ashes, they will be wearing their limited edition retro shirt for the first time 🔥🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
🪡🧵 Get yours today: https://t.co/0aGRPoEUD2
Read more: https://t.co/bAJmtANsg1 pic.twitter.com/uZiLfPz09Z
Session number 2️⃣ wrapped up in Canberra 🇦🇺
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 9.09.25 - Go Media Stadium, Auckland
🎟️ Tickets from Ticketek: https://t.co/fLc4QwOFr1 pic.twitter.com/evwKaAf0Pn
When the All Whites take on the Socceroos this Friday for the Soccer Ashes, they will be wearing their limited edition retro shirt for the first time 🔥🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
🪡🧵 Get yours today: https://t.co/0aGRPoEUD2
Read more: https://t.co/bAJmtANsg1 pic.twitter.com/uZiLfPz09Z
I didn't make the dream happen of coming over from Manchester for the third time this year, so can't bring the banners, shirts and kiwis etc. But the show goes on.
Fan Friendly: the Supporteroos Organiser now can't make it and was struggling for numbers on a work day.
Little Corner of Nix and VicNix good people on the ground there too.
I didn't make the dream happen of coming over from Manchester for the third time this year, so can't bring the banners, shirts and kiwis etc. But the show goes on.
Fan Friendly: the Supporteroos Organiser now can't make it and was struggling for numbers on a work day.
Little Corner of Nix and VicNix good people on the ground there too.
Initially I would have said no way he starts, but hell if he feels fit and maybe he does. Needs to start building a combo with the likes of Bell and Stamenic, and is only 8-10 games left to get that sorted from scratch. It's not so much about results now as building towards June 2026.
Ryan Thomas is back with the All Whites for the first time since 2019 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Hear his thoughts after his first full training session with the squad as they get ready to face Australia for the Soccer Ashes 🇦🇺
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺… pic.twitter.com/tZs8XxeIYl
Must be very close to almost exactly 25 years ago that his mum competed for NZ in judo at the Sydney Olympics.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/commbank-socceroos-squad-update
CommBank Socceroos Head Coach, Tony Popovic has been required to make a change to his squad to face New Zealand in the ANZAC Soccer Ashes Series, starting with Friday’s match in Canberra.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/new-zealand/preview/australia-vs-new-zealand-prediction-team-news-lineups_580754.html
Australia possible starting lineup:
Gauci; Degenek, Burgess, Miller, Rowles; Hrustic, Metcalfe, O'Neill; Boyle, Silvera, Irankunda
Crocombe; Payne, Bindon, De Vries, Surman; Stamenic, Rufer, Bell; Just, Wood, Barbarouses
All Whites midfielder Marko Stamenic has been ruled out of the upcoming internationals against Australia with injury. @newstalkzbsport
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) September 4, 2025
Marco Stamenic ruled out of both games with injury
All Whites midfielder Marko Stamenic has been ruled out of the upcoming internationals against Australia with injury. @newstalkzbsport
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) September 4, 2025
Marco Stamenic ruled out of both games with injury
Damn it!
Big loss to our midfield.
I’d say Rufer slots in next to Bell for the first game with Singh higher. I don’t expect a replacement to come in but could be wrong.
I’d start Thomas but don’t think he’ll start in Canberra straight away and will start in NZ on Tuesday.
Trust the Aussies to lose a sporting relic.
Initially I would have said no way he starts, but hell if he feels fit and maybe he does. Needs to start building a combo with the likes of Bell and Stamenic, and is only 8-10 games left to get that sorted from scratch. It's not so much about results now as building towards June 2026.
Ryan Thomas is back with the All Whites for the first time since 2019 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Hear his thoughts after his first full training session with the squad as they get ready to face Australia for the Soccer Ashes 🇦🇺
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺… pic.twitter.com/tZs8XxeIYl
Thomas won't have much combination with his team mates, after 6 years (almost really 8 years) away from the team. But he will be very fit, and match sharp. I think he starts now with Stamenic out.
Rufer is still easing his way into preseason at the Nix, and likely a month of so away from being proper match fit.
But yeah sadly without yes Libby and now Marko, it looks much tougher to get a result, esp in Canberra.
You said it, Miloš, not us 😅👃
— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 4, 2025
All smiles between tomorrow night’s combatants from an iconic photoshoot in Canberra 🤝#Socceroos #ForeverGolden #VisitCanberra pic.twitter.com/0NK7rTsCVG
What I hope most for (other than goals and a win) tomorrow is for whoever plays in between Wood and our 6s to have really good performances and see some claims properly staked in this area. Right now it is hard to say that anyone should or must start in these positions.
What I hope most for (other than goals and a win) tomorrow is for whoever plays in between Wood and our 6s to have really good performances and see some claims properly staked in this area. Right now it is hard to say that anyone should or must start in these positions.
Initially I would have said no way he starts, but hell if he feels fit and maybe he does. Needs to start building a combo with the likes of Bell and Stamenic, and is only 8-10 games left to get that sorted from scratch. It's not so much about results now as building towards June 2026.
Ryan Thomas is back with the All Whites for the first time since 2019 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Hear his thoughts after his first full training session with the squad as they get ready to face Australia for the Soccer Ashes 🇦🇺
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺… pic.twitter.com/tZs8XxeIYl
Initially I would have said no way he starts, but hell if he feels fit and maybe he does. Needs to start building a combo with the likes of Bell and Stamenic, and is only 8-10 games left to get that sorted from scratch. It's not so much about results now as building towards June 2026.
Ryan Thomas is back with the All Whites for the first time since 2019 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Hear his thoughts after his first full training session with the squad as they get ready to face Australia for the Soccer Ashes 🇦🇺
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺… pic.twitter.com/tZs8XxeIYl
I once met a German in India who learned English on a working holiday in Te Anau. He had a proper Southland accent and Kiwi slang.
I appreciate the kiwi accent is fairly easy one to loose during an extended jaunt overseas and I do appreciate the majority of dutch can speak near fluent English but having the kiwi accent blended in with the accent of a non-native English speaking accent is another level all together.
- I don't really rate FDV or Payne at this level, but are options.
- ideally I think we should go to a back 3, Bindon, Surman, Boxall.
- We need Rufer/Bell in that Midfield without Marko. Otherwise we won't see the ball.
- I'm still confident we have enough in attack and D to frustrate them..
X
Socceroos are missing Irvine, Ryan, Souttar and a few other frontliners. Plus picked no preseason ALM guys, when they would normally have a couple. Obviously hurts us more not being full strength as their depth far deeper than ours
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360775303/all-whites-v-socceroos-all-you-need-know-about-first-soccer-ashes-match
I know it won't happen as LBS would only potentially get minutes very late on, once Wood has likely been subbed off - but LBS is such an exciting and creative player, it would be fun to see.
Wood tends to get a lack of service with the national team, so I'd just be curious to see what someone like LBS could do with Chris Wood up top
Queenslander 3x a year.
Initially I would have said no way he starts, but hell if he feels fit and maybe he does. Needs to start building a combo with the likes of Bell and Stamenic, and is only 8-10 games left to get that sorted from scratch. It's not so much about results now as building towards June 2026.
Ryan Thomas is back with the All Whites for the first time since 2019 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) September 3, 2025
Hear his thoughts after his first full training session with the squad as they get ready to face Australia for the Soccer Ashes 🇦🇺
Soccer Ashes 2025 🏆⬇️
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺 5.09.25 - GIO Stadium, Canberra
🇳🇿⚔️🇦🇺… pic.twitter.com/tZs8XxeIYl
I once met a German in India who learned English on a working holiday in Te Anau. He had a proper Southland accent and Kiwi slang.
Chris Wood does not sound like he had spent any time in Hamilton either....
I know it won't happen as LBS would only potentially get minutes very late on, once Wood has likely been subbed off - but LBS is such an exciting and creative player, it would be fun to see.
Wood tends to get a lack of service with the national team, so I'd just be curious to see what someone like LBS could do with Chris Wood up top
LBS is an exciting project player pick there to learn. I doubt he is anywhere yet near ready to make an impression at this level. How many actual goals and assists does he have for the Nix?
He ain’t Irankunda. But if I’m proven wrong happy days
Concerned we will get bullied.
and then leaves these for two wide forwards and #10:
McCowatt, Just, Singh, Old
Concerned we will get bullied.
and then leaves these for two wide forwards and #10:
McCowatt, Just, Singh, Old
Need him to step up in the big games for those 'best ever' All White shouts. No disrespect to his hattricks and braces against Samoa and Vanuatu, but some goals and some games weigh heavier than others.
Concerned we will get bullied.
and then leaves these for two wide forwards and #10:
McCowatt, Just, Singh, Old
Yes interesting that it sounds like Just have been playing pretty centrally for Motherwell.
Need him to step up in the big games for those 'best ever' All White shouts. No disrespect to his hattricks and braces against Samoa and Vanuatu, but some goals and some games weigh heavier than others.
How Bazeley uses FDV I think is really important to maximising Wood's chances of breaking his duck. It was only about a 10 min cameo Francis/Chris combo against Ukraine but it looking highly promising.
Do FDV & Old start, and then Old off at 60 mins for McGarry with FDV pushing forward? Wood should be good to go for the full 90 mins, as long as Forest haven't requested a managed workload. Just a shame both ALM LBs will still be pre season rusty.

